Judge orders police to turn over new evidence in Dana Ireland case for court review

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Circuit Court judge is reviewing evidence collected from the newly identified killer of Dana Ireland.

Prosecutors tried to block the release of that information, saying it would interfere with an ongoing investigation into Albert Lauro, Jr.’s role in the Ireland murder case.

On Monday, Judge Peter Kubota denied the county’s request to keep the evidence secret.

Kubota even went a step further and ordered Hawaii County police and prosecutors to turn over additional evidence every Wednesday.

Lauro was identified as the DNA match to all the forensic evidence collected from the 1991 crime scene.

Dana Ireland was hit by car while riding her bike in Puna. Critically injured, she was taken to a fishing trail and raped.

Genetic testing identified Lauro as the previously described, “unknown male #1″ earlier this year and subsequent tests confirmed Lauro’s semen, sweat and skin were found at the crime scene.

Police interviewed Lauro for about an hour on July 19, before taking a cheek swab from him.

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Lauro killed himself four days later on July 23.

A recording of that interview between police and Lauro is among the items the judge will review to determine if it is relevant to a case he is presiding over.

Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer were convicted of the Ireland murder in 2000, despite no forensic evidence connecting them to the crime.

The same judge overturned the brothers’ convictions last year, but they now want the court to rule them innocent of the Ireland murder. That’s the only way they can get compensated for the wrongful conviction and imprisonment.

The Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office is asking the court to restrict access to the new evidence.

“Any premature disclosure of these records would absolutely jeopardize and or completely upend this investigation,” said Elizabeth Britt Bailey, deputy corporation counsel for the county, who wants a protective order signed by the Hawaii Innocence Project attorneys so the information won’t be publicly distributed.

Judge Kubota will announce Wednesday what pieces of evidence should be turned over to the Hawaii Innocence Project and if a protective order is necessary.